Parents, if your teenager files his or her own tax return (and they should file their own tax return; do not add their income to your return) and you still claim them as your dependent, they need to be sure to fill out their tax return properly.

(Sorry, that was a really long sentence!!!)

Here’s the point: If you claim your teenager as your dependent, then he will NOT claim himself on his own tax return.

Here’s how to do that:

Right under the name and filing status is where your teenager will NOT take his or her own exemption. On the Form 4010 it’s line 6a.

Your teenager does not check the box.

Sometimes tax software will phrase it differently, such as “check the box if someone else can claim you,” so read it carefully.
In the end, your teenager should claim zero exemptions, since you, the parent, are claiming him.

On the Form 1040 it looks like this:

Here’s what it looks like on the Form 1040EZ.

Notice how the question is phrased differently?

One the 1040EZ a teenager does check the box.

What amount should a teenager put on line 5? Do the worksheet on the back.

Hint: Most teenagers will end up putting their income from Line 1 (max of $5,950 in 2012) on Line 5, but use the worksheet on the back of the Form 1040EZ.

Confusing? You bet!!! That’s why I will always have a job as a tax preparer!